Sarah Hall
2010-12-22
On the windswept front of Morecambe Bay, Cy Parks spends his childhood years first in a guest house for consumptives run by his mother and then as apprentice to alcoholic tattoo-artist Eliot Riley. Thirsty for new experiences, he departs for America and finds himself in the riotous world of the Coney Island boardwalk, where he sets up his own business as 'The Electric Michelangelo'. In this carnival environment of roller-coasters and freak-shows, Cy becomes enamoured with Grace, a mysterious immigrant and circus performer who commissions him to cover her entire body in tattooed eyes.
Hugely atmospheric, exotic and familiar, The Electric Michelangelo is a love story and an exquisitely rendered portrait of seaside resorts on opposite sides of the Atlantic by one of the most uniquely talented novelists of her generation.
Sarah Hall's 'The Electric Michelangelo' is a departure from my usual reads, yet it captivated me with its unique blend of historical fiction and speculative elements. The novel's exploration of tattoo artistry as both an art form and a form of self-expression is fascinating. Hall's prose is lush and evocative, drawing the reader into the protagonist's world with a vividness that is almost tactile. The book's non-linear structure and rich character studies offer a refreshing break from more plot-driven narratives, making it a compelling read for those who appreciate aesthetic functionality in storytelling.
